Mechanism for finishing stereotype plates



, Sept. 22, 1936. c, A, HARM-:ss

MECYNIWSM FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES- Filed Sept. 20, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l l VE TOR ATTO NEY Sept.V 22, 1936. Q A, HARLESS 2,055,349

MECHANISM FOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES Sept. 22, 1.936. C, HARLESS 2,055,349Y

MECHANISM FOR Fl-[NISHINGV STEREOTYE PLATES 4Filed sept. 2o, 1954 3' sneets-sheet s Patented Sept. 22, 1936 MECHANISM yFOR FINISHING STEREOTYPE PLATES Charles Alonzo Harless, Oak Park, Ill., assigner to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporationof Illinois Y Application September 20, 1934, Serial No. 744,762

23 Claims.

The invention relates to a new and useful machine for producing stereotype printing plates and comprises mechanism for breaching the in terior projections or ribs of the plate to-the size and true cylindricalform of the plate cylinder of the press. l

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth Ain part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means `of Vthe instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists'inv the novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a machine embodying the invention; Y

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal Vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig.. 1, showing the broach at the end of its workingstroke and the plate-holding fixture open, and the saddle-.engaging the plate for removal; Y

Fig. 3v is similar to Fig. 2, but`showing the broach at the return-to Vthe initialpdsition, and the guide bar retracted beyond the plate-holding fixture; 1' i Fig. 4 is a detached detail, with parts in section, and parts brokenaway, of the plate-conveying saddle;

Fig. 5 isa top plan of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

Fig. '7 is a vertical transverse section, on the line 1 1 of Fig..-1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. Sis an elevation of Fig. l looking from the right-hand side of the sheet, substantially from the line 7 1 to the right-hand end; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged .detail vertical section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. .1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

- The invention provides a machine for producing, that is, casting and finishing cylindrical stereotype plates having inner projections or ribs extending longitudinally, that is, parallel to the axis of the plate, and constituting the seat or support for the .plate upon the plate cylinder of `the press.A These longitudinal ribs or projections are also preferably disposed'radially, and the plate is removed longitudinally from the core of the casting machine. i The machine is welladapted for the production of cylindricallplates, including both semi-cylindrical plates as well as tubular plates, that is, plates which extend more than a semi-circumference aboutthe plate cylinder of the press, and` in many cases extend through 300 or more degrees of arc.` -To facilitatethe removal of such plates from the` core of the casting box, the inner, longitudinally-disposed projections or ribs are beveled or tapered longitudinally from one end thereof to the other, and also preferably'from the roots to the crowns or faces of the respective ribs.

The machine is equally well adaptedfor the production of plates having plate lo-cking lugs on the interior which are engaged by devices on the plate cylinder to draw the plate about the, cylinder.A A plate of this kind is shown and described in copending application Ser. No. 736,816 of Frank A. Foster, filed July 25, 1934. In this kind. of plate the locking lugs also -are preferably beveled longitudinally to facilitate the longitudinal withdrawal of the plate from the casting-box core. l

In the ifinished operation in accordance withmy machine, the unfinished stereotype plate' is held resiliently, that is, the printing surface of the. plate is brought to and held in true cylindrical form, by pressing the plate slightly, or in other suitable manner, and a cylindrical breach of the same radius as the platecylinder of the printing press, moving coaxially'with the held `stereotype plate, finishes the inner surface of the ribs,`and of the locking lugs when employed, to the shape and the radius of the plate cylinder of the press.

In the casting of the plates, a core is used having longitudinally disposed grooves or recessesof slightly decreasing cross-section from o-ne end thereof to the other, whereby` the ribs, and locking lugs when used, are correspondingly tapered to facilitate the longitudinal withdrawal of the plate from the core. The present preferred embodiment of plate finishing means comprises broadly a plate-holding fixture into which the unfinished plate may be readily inserted and from which the finished plate is readily withdrawn, the fixture` bringing the printing surface-of the plate resiliently into true cylindrical form. A multiple cylindrical broach traveling coaxially With the printing surface of the plate, by successivecuts on a single travel of the' multiple broach, finishes the interior surface or surfacesof the plate on a true cylinder coaxial with the printing .accompanying drawings, the mechanism surface of the plate and on the radius of the printing cylinder of the press. The plate is preferably automatically removed from the fixture coincident with the return of the broach after its working movement.

In this exemplary preferred embodiment there is provided an openable and closable cylindrical plate-holding fixture, and when open a tubular plate may be readily placed directly therein and the finished plate removed therefrom in like manner, the closing of the fixture slightly compressing the plate with its printing surface against a true cylindrical surface and then holding it against longitudinal movement; a cylindrical multiple broach of the radius of the press cylinder is guided and hydraulically driven coaxially with the plate to finish the interior of the ribs to the Yexact shape and radius of the plate cylinder of the -press on a single travel of the broach; and mechanism for automatically removing the finished plate from the opened fixture and returning the mech anism to the initial point of its cycle.A f Y It will be understood that the foregoing general description, and the following detailed description as well, are illustrative and exemplary but kare not restrictive of the invention.

Y Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example inthe is mounted on a suitable frame I, and supported `upon the frame is a sterotype plate-holding fixture 2, capacitated to resiilently hold a tubular stereotype plate with its printing surface in true cylindrical form and of the proper diameter for printing in the press, and to hold it also against displacement either angularly or axially, preparatory to drawing through the interior a cylindrical `and concentric broach of the exact dimension of the plate-holding cylinderV of the press. The

`plate-holding fixture 2 Vis openable to receive the unfinished stereotype plate and to deliver the Vfinished plate, and as embodied, the upper half v of the fixture 2 is hinged at and 'l on a rod 8, lcarried by the lower and xed half 4 of the xture. Suitable means I4 for locking the upper part 5 in closed position are provided.V Each of Ysaid lockingdevices I4 (see Figs. 1 and 7) corn- VA, arcuaterstops 9 and I0 are fixed to the forward vends of the two halves of the fixture.

Suitable stops, preferably Va plurality of rollers II, are

ymounted in the lower fixed half 4 of the fixture,

against which the straight edges of the stereotype plate rest to angularly position the plate .inthe fixture before it is closed and to hold it against angular displacement. 'Ihus the plate will be held in position within the closed fixture with its printing face resiliently pressed against Va smooth inner surface 'of such character as will not injure the printing surface of the plate, and representing the printing radius of the plate on the press. Y

In the illustrative lembodiment the broach is operated hydraulically, and as shown a multiple cylindrical broach 2| is mounted freely on'a cylindrical guide bar 22, which bar is longitudinally slidable in a forward bearing block 23 and a rear bearing block 24 xedon the rmachine frame.

The guiderod 22 is attached to and detachable from a yoke which is driven by the hydraulic cylinders. For this purpose, rod 22 is slotted at its forward end to receive a rearwardly-projecting tongue 27, which is fixed to a bolt 28, which passes through the central portion of a transverse yoke 29 and is fastened in position by a nut 30. The yoke 29 is connected to the hydraulic cylinders by the forward ends of piston rods 3| and 32 of hydraulic cylinders 33 and 34, passing through Y openings in the ends of the yoke, nuts 39 being threaded onto the ends of rods 3| and 32. 'I'he hydraulic cylinders 33 and 34 are horizontally disposed and extend longitudinally at either side of the machine frame, the cylinder 33 being supported at its ends by frame members 35 and 3E, and cylinder 34being mounted on similar frame members 3l and 38. The cylinders drive the mechanism through a double stroke to draw thebroach from its initial position through the stereotype plate and after removal of the plate to restore it to initial position for the next succeeding reciprocation, the two Yextreme positions of the broach being shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the present embodiment, the guide rod 22 is detached from the yoke when in the position of Fig. 1, and the guide rod is retracted to the left fromthe position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 3, that is, until its front end is clear of the plate-holding fixture, to permit insertion of a new tubular stereotype plate in the fixture, and

the guide rod is then returned, to the right'in Fig. 1, and fixed to the yoke 29 preparatory to broaching the new plate. In the embodied form of means for detaching, retracting and returning the guide rod, a key 49 passes through the forwardslotted end of guide rod 22 and through the tongue 21 of the yoke 29 to fix them together, and to release the guide rod from the yoke. As embodied, the guide rod is retracted and returned by manually operated devices. On the under side of the guide rod and extending longitudinally thereof is a gear rack 5 I, and mounted in the guide bearing 24 is a gear wheel 52, with its shaft 53 journalled in the bearing. Meshing with gear wheel 52 is a pinion 55, xed on a shaft 59, which `is journalled in the machine frame. A crank 56 'is xed to shaft 59.

key 49 is lifted out, thereby disconnecting the guide rod 22 from theY yoke 29. Crank 56 is used to rotate gear 52, and after collar 59 is removed, the guide rod is retracted from the position of Fig. 1 to that of Fig. 3, thereby leaving the plateholding xture free, and a new plate to be' n- `ished is inserted in the open fixture, and the lid is closed. Crank 5B is then rotated in theopposite direction, and guide rod 22 is moved from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 1, key 49 is dropped into place, connecting guide rod 22 and yoke 29, collar 59 is dropped behind the broach,

as shown in Fig. 1, and the mechanismi is ready for the next breaching operation.

The embodied form of plate-removing means for delivering the finished plate from the fixture ahead of the returning broach (Figs. 1 and 3 to 6) comprises a saddle-plate 66, mounted in a horizontally-disposed slot 61 formed in the upper 'face of guide rod 22, there being a corresponding alined slot 68 in the upper part of the bearragiona-34o ing block 24. The plate saddle 66 is resiliently mounted in a suitable manner as, for instance, `by resting uponusprings 69 and V1i) nested in the Aguide rod 22, andthe saddlehas at itsforward end a plate-engaging hook .1| At" the endlof the breaching stroke, the saddle is'in the position shown in Fig. 2, andthe hook 1|, due toits spring action, has engaged the forward .end `of a finished plate A. On the return stroke of. the hydraulic cylinders, the fixture 2 is open, .andthe plate A, mounted on saddle 66, is carried to the left ahead of the returning broach .to the kposition shown in Fig.. 1, and the; finished. plate -is then removed endwise from the saddle; andover to the rear end of the guide rod 22. i

The embodied control mechanism'for the hydraulic cylinders (Figs. 2, 7 and 8) is operated .both manually and automatically, the power being turned on by the attendant and being shut off automatically at the close .of the lstroke. The supply of `pressure fluid to the cylinders 33 and 34 is controlled by a reversible valve 19. The stemfll of this valve extends outwardly. and fixed thereto is a control lever 8|, operated both manually and by the mechanism, as already mentioned. Fixed to the yoke 29 (Figs. '7 and 8) and extending along the machine'frame is a'rod 84, which moves to and fro longitudinally with the yoke. Fixed. on the rod 84 are two stops 83 and 93, and astride Vrod 84, inthe pathof the stops, is .a forked lever 81. Lever 81 is pivoted Yon the frame at 88, and at its lower end itis pivotally connected to arod 89, which rod is pivoted at its other end 90 to the lever 8|. The poweristurned on for the forward stroke by manually moving the lever 8| to the right, and at the end of the stroke the stop 83 engages and rocks lever 81 tothe right, thereby -restoring lever 8| to the neutral position, cutting off the power and stopping the mechanism For `the return stroke, lever 8| is rocked manually to the left to turn on the power, and at vtheendfof the stroke stop 93 engages lever 81, rocking it to the left and thereby moving lever 8|V back to neutral position and cutting off the power. i

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific meehanismsshown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope` of` the accompanying claims without departing from.the principles of the invention and `without sacrificing-its chief advantages. i I

What I claim is: i

,1. `A machine for finishing cylindrical stereotype plates` including in combination, means for resiliently .holding a stereotype plate with its printing ,surface in true cylindrical form, a cylindrical broach of the same radius as the'printing cylinder of a press and means including a longitudinally reciprocable Vbar on z which the broach is `mounted -for effecting. relative movement of the plate and broach on their common axis to finish the interior of .the plate to "the same true cylindrical form as the press cylinder and means vpreventing rotarymovement of said bar. i f 2. A stereotype plate finishing Vmachine including in combination a multi-part fixture openable to receive a plate and closable to hold the plate with its printing surface in true cylindrical form, a concentric cylindrical broach, means for moving the broach axially to nish the interior of the plate and for reverselyreturning the broach to its original position, and means for 4n amoving the .finished plate from the open -bar `reciprocates.

fixture;` prior to the` .return 'movement ofthe broach. 1.1. y i

-;.3.\..A'.istereotype. plate finishing machine including in combination a multi-part, hinged'fixturelopenabieto receivea plate and closable to holdthe `plate with its printing surface in true cylindrical form, a concentric cylindrical broach,

,.aguideffor the broach extending through the fixture, means forv moving the guided broach to iinishthe interior. ofthe plate, and means for removing jthe finished plate from the open LXtuTe. i' V L 4.,Astereotype plate finishing machine including inpombination a` fixture for holding a plate-,with its printing surface in truecylindrical'form, a concentric cylindrical broach, a guide ,for `theloroach extending, through; the fixture, .means for. moving the guided broach axially to finish the Ainterior of the plate, and means for removing the. guide from the fixture preparatory to the insertion of an unfinished plate.

., 5.,A stereotype plate finishing machine includingin-combination a fixture for holding a .plate with its printing surface in true cylindrical form, a concentric cylindrical broach, a guide for the broach extending through the fixture, means for. moving the guided broach axially `to finish the 'interior of the plate and for reversely returning `.the broach to its original. position, and means for removing the guide from the fixture preparatory-.to the insertion of an unfinished plate.

v6. Astereotype plate'finishing machine including in combination a fixture .for holding a plate with its printing surface in true cylindrical form, a. concentric cylindrical broach, a guide for the broachextending through the fixture, means vfor moving. the guided broach axially to finish the `interioriof the plate and for reversely returning -the 'broach' to its original position, means for removing the'finished plate, and meansE for re- -moving :the guide. from the fixture preparatory to the insertion of an unfinished plate.

f `7. A stereotype plate' nishing machine including .in combination a fixture for holding aplate` with its printing surface in true cylindrical form, aconcentric cylindrical broach, means for mov- :ing the broach axially to finish the interior of the lplate, said means including a guide-bar on which the broach isfmounted and a guide for said bar f within which the bar reciprocates.

i 8. A stereotype vplate finishing machine including'in combination a fixture for holding a plate, with its printing surface in true cylindrical fcrm, a concentric cylindrical broach, means for moving thebroach axially to finish the interior of the plate, said means including a longitudinally moving guide bar. on which the broach is mounted. .andmeans for-guiding the bar within which the V9; A stereotype plate finishing machine including in combination a fixture for holding `a plate vwith its printing surface in true cylindricalform, ja concentric cylindrical broach, means for moving the broach axially to finish the interior of the plate, said means including aguide bar on which the broach is mounted, and means mounted on said guide bar for removing the finished plate.

10. A stereotype plate finishing machine including in combination a fixture for holding a plate with its printing surface in true cylindrical form, a concentric cylindrical broach, and means for moving the broachv axially to finish the interior of the: plate and for reversely returning the broach to its original position, said means includinga longitudinally reciprocable guide'bar'- on which the broach ismounted and means for preventing rotational movement of the bar.

i 11. AV stereotype plate rfinishing machine including in combination a fixture for lholding a plate with its printing .surface in true cylindrical form,.a concentric cylindrical broach, means for moving the broach axially to finish the interior of the plate and for reversely returning` the broach to its original position, said means including a longitudinally reciprocable guide bar extending withinthe fixture and on which the broach is mounted, and means for removing said guide bar from the xture fortherinsertion of an unfinished plate.

12. 'A' .stereotypew'plate Vfinishing machine including in combination a fixture for holding a printing plate with its printing surface in true cylindrical form, a concentric cylindrical'broach, means for moving the .broach axially to finish the interior of thev plate and for reversely returning the broach to its original position, said means including a reciprocable guide bar extending within the fixture andl on which the broach is mounted,

and means for moving said guide bar longitudinally toyclear the fixture for the insertion of an unfinished plate. y Y f 13. VA stereotype plate finishing machine including infcombination a fixture for holding a plate with itsprinting surface in true cylindrical form, a concentric cylindrical broach, means for moving the broach axially to finish the interior of the` plate, said means including a guide bar on, which the broach is mounted,and means for movingthe guide bar and broach longitudinally together through the fixture to finish the plate.

14. A stereotype plate finishing machine includingin combination a xture for holding a plate with its printing surface in true cylindrical form, a concentric cylindrical broach, means for moving the broach axially to finish the interior of the plate, said means including a guide bar on which the Abroach is mounted, and means for moving the guide barV and broach longitudinally together through the fixture to finish the plate and in the reverse direction to return the broach to originalV position.

15. Astereotype plate finishing machine. including in combination .a fixture for holding a plate with its printing surface in true cylindrical form, a concentric cylindrical broach, means for moving the broach axially to finish the interior of the plate, said means including a guide bar on which the broach is mounted, and means for moving kthe guidebar and broach through the fixture Vto finish the plate, and means for moving the guide bar clear of the fixture preparatory to inserting an unfinished plate in the fixture.

16. A machine for finishing curved stereotype z.platesfincluding in combination a. plate holding xture having two cylindrical members openable .to receivea plate and closable tohold the plate resiliently pressed to true cylindrical form, cylin- ,drical'cutting'means for trimmingthe interior of the plate,'and means for moving'the cutter to and froaxially of the plate, said means including a fhydraulic' cylinder driving the'cutter on its trim- ;able 'to receive a plate and closable to holdthe Y plate'resiliently pressed totrue cylindrical form,

cylindrical cutting means for trimming the interior-of the plate, a bar carrying and guiding said, cuttingmeanalrgand ahydraulic cylinder driving the' bar and cutter stroke. i. y 18.-A machine for finishing curved stereotype 'plateseincluding in combination a plate holding fixture having two cylindrical members vopenable; to receive a plate and closable to hold the plate resiliently pressed to true cylindrical form, cylindrical cutting means for trimmingrthe interior of the plate, a bar movable coaxially with said fixture and carrying said cutting means, a hydraulic cylinder driving the bar and cutter on the trimming stroke, and means for moving said bar backwardly preparatory to trimming a succeedi'ngv plate.

19. A machine fornishing curved stereotype plates including in combination a plate holding xture having two cylindrical members openable to receive a plate and closable to hold the plate resiliently pressed to true cylindrical form, cylindrical cutting means for trimming the interior of the plate, a bar movable coaxially with on the trimming said fixture and carrying said cutting means, a :hydraulic cylinder driving the bar and cutter on .the trimming stroke and manually operable .means for moving said bar backwardly preparatory to .trimming a succeedingI plate.

20. A machine for finishing curved stereotype plates including-in combination a plate holding xture having two. cylindrical members openable .to receive a plate and closable to hold the plate resiliently pressed to true cylindrical form, cylindrical cutting means for trimming the interior of the plate, a member reciprocable coaxially With said fixture and carrying said cutting means, means for moving said vmember and cutter to and fro coaxially Within said fixture including* aV hydraulic cylinder driving the cutter on the cutting stroke and manually operable means for retracting said member.

21. A machine for finishing curved stereotype plates including Vin combination a plate-holding fixturehaving two cylindrical members openable to receive the plate and closable about the plate, vmeans including a cam and operating lever for pressing the closed members together, cylindrical cutting means for' trimming the interior of the plate, land means for moving the cutter to and froaxially of the plate, said means including a hydraulic cylinder driving the cutter on its trimmingstroke. v

22. A machine for finishing curved stereotype plates including in combination a plate-holding fixture having two cylindrical members openable to receive a plate and closable to hold the terior of the plate, means for moving the cutter to and fro axially of the plate, said means including a hydraulic cylinder driving the cutter on its trimming stroke, and means operating automatically on the completion of the cutting .stroke for cutting ofi the forward drive of the hydraulic power.

23. A machine for finishing curved stereotype plates including inv combination a plate-holding fixture having two cylindrical members openable to receive a plate and closable to hold the plate resiliently pressed to true cylindrical form,V cylindrical cutting means for trimming the interior of the plate, means including a hydraulic cylinder for driving the cutter on its trimming and return stroke, and means operating automatically'on the completion of the return stroke Yfor cutting off the hydraulic power.

v CHARLES ALONZO HARLESS. 

